Abby Grant details a day in her life as a Christchurch Business Advisory Services graduate, including a fun workplace ritual and the reassurance of having support just a swivel away!
8.00am: Start the day with a 30-minute walk on my way to work. It’s an ideal way to start my morning and not only helps wake me up, but gets my steps in for the day.
8.30am: Once I arrive at work, I check my emails and organise my workflow to plan for the day ahead. I get straight into the workpapers for my current project, if I encounter any uncertainty, I can easily swivel my chair around and ask my work buddy for help. If she’s busy, the whole team is always willing to lend a hand. It’s reassuring to know I have such strong support while I’m learning and that I’m part of a team that encourages questions.
10.00am: Morning tea time in the hub! It’s a great opportunity to connect with everyone. We always have a spread of cheese, crackers, and biscuits (my personal favorite is the Tim Tams!)
12.30pm: Today, we have an internal training session where the grads attend a workshop on common challenges – it runs much like a university tutorial. The more experienced members of the team share their knowledge with us grads on the topics that they have found people often struggle with.
These workshops are super interactive and encourage participation to ensure we get the most out of them. Today’s focus is on the GST workpapers, and we can even request additional workshops on topics we find tricky.
1.00pm: Lunchtime! After eating in the hub, I go for a walk. It’s important to me to get some fresh air and recharge. Plus, being in such a prime location means plenty of shops and cafes nearby if I want a little treat (though that can be a slippery slope).
2.00pm: Back at my desk, I review a set of accounts returned by my manager. We go through the feedback together, ensuring I’m on track for finalisation. I address each point and, once I’m satisfied, send it back for final review. The multi-layered support gives me confidence that I am sending out high-quality accounts to clients, especially as I’m still learning.
4.30pm: At the end of the month, we are allowed to clock out 30 minutes early for a gathering in the hub. The fridge is stocked with a variety of drinks and today we have pizza! It’s a fantastic way to catch up with coworkers and build relationships that extend beyond work. We also hold a “Mug of the Month” ceremony – if you see a co-worker do something funny during the month, you can nominate them. The winner has to drink from the designated mug for the month, adding some light-hearted fun and boosting morale in the office.